GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Speaker Nazir Ahmed has formed an eight-member parliamentary committee to examine the lease of 37 government guest houses and properties to a private company and come up with recommendations, following opposition protests on the issue.

In the GB Assembly pre-budget session, opposition members strongly protested the decision to lease out government properties to Green Tourism Pvt Ltd for 30 years. A former GB cabinet member, Syed Sohail Abbas Shah, termed the agreement illegal, saying that it didn’t follow procedure.

He alleged the GB government made the decision without a cabinet meeting, obtaining signatures from some members through circulation.

Injustice to locals

Javed Ali Manwa, an­­other opposition member, stated that thousands of kanals of land at tourist points were also handed over to the company. He argued that this was an injustice to local people.

Protesters in Skardu seek withdrawal of decision

However, GB Tourism Minister Ghulam Mohammad clarified that the government outsourced rest houses for better management and revenue, not land.

GB Interior Minister Shams Lone vowed the government would protect lands and natural resources.

At this, Amjad Hussain suggested the house that a committee be set up to address the issue. Lamenting that lands in GB were being “sold to multi-national companies and five-star hotels”, he urged support for legislation to protect natural resources and local ownership.

A protest rally was also organised in Skardu against the decision to lease out the government property for decades. The protesters marched from Skardu’s Jail Chowk to the city park area and warned the authorities concerned of dire consequences if the decision is not taken back.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2024